Yes, Kit Harington is in Belfast AGAIN; Irish actor joins the cast of Game of Thrones

In the continuing adventures of the worst-kept secret in Game of Thrones land, Kit Harington was seen heading back to Belfast, Northern Ireland last night.

On the same flight was Tom Wlaschiha, who portrays everyone’s favorite Sexy Jesus Assassin on the show, Jaqen H’ghar.

This new report comes to us courtesy of WotW reader Lucy, who was on the flight from London to Belfast last night with the actors. Lucy submitted a few photos that she snapped of the actors, confirming the sighting.

For those of you deeply invested in #HairWatch, Harington was sporting a man-bun.

From behind shot. For science.

So once again it’s back to Belfast, the major home of Game of Thrones production for a supposedly dead main character. The cast table read happened a couple days ago and is done with, but filming was due to begin this week, so it’s no surprise that some actors are returning to Northern Ireland.

Is it possible Harington is there to simply film a funeral/play a dead body? Technically. But considering how many visits he’s had to Belfast in the past couple months of pre-production, I find it very difficult to believe. Harington has also refused to take photos with any fans in Belfast recently, according to several Twitter mentions.

Honestly, at this point, does ANYONE believe Jon Snow is staying dead for good?

And now we have a piece of casting news!

According to Alex Cusack Management, Irish actor Eddie Jackson has won an unspecified role on Game of Thrones.

Congrats to my man Eddie Jackson who has landed a role in Game of Thrones. Belfast this week and Spain in October! pic.twitter.com/zcL4w6xh8i

Given that Spain is hosting multiple in-show locations this year (potentially some new ones in Westeros) and almost all show interior scenes are filmed in Belfast, it’s difficult to glean much info from the announcement. The actor could play a variety of parts needed for the filming that was scheduled to begin this week but most likely he doesn’t have a large role.

Yeah, I don’t remember Charles Dance having to tell people he wasn’t allowed in photos etc for his small cameo as Tywin’s corpse, so I think it’s safe to say there’s another reason Kit is trying his best to avoid having pics taken of him while in Belfast.

Well…. some people say that Rose lives there? Could be the reason he is always travelling to Belfast.
Trust me, I am one for “I need JON Kit Harington SNOW” back.
But I am preparing myself for a worst case scenario. LOL

I mean, yes, they will need him there for the corpse scenes, that’s for sure. However, I don’t know what to think anymore!

I think the man bun was a way of drawing less attention to himself. Because Jon Snow hair is hard to miss.
PS – he is fine!

Although I still maintain Euron has NOT yet been confirmed despite what everyone believes (merely a casting call that could be him- the character could still be adapted). This guy does bear a resemblance to Euron however.

This is going to be the most interesting season to date. TWOW is officially being spoiled and all we have is speculation, now. This is awesome because it takes me back to the time before I became a book reader and just enjoyed the show as a show lol.

It was going to happen sooner or later. The Kit sighting. Even if only for the burial/burning scene…that couldn’t wait a whole season. But it does mean that “I won’t be in season 6” statement was an out and out falsehood. Maybe it could be taken to mean “I won’t have anything new in season 6 to film”.

I know it sounds goofy to bring it up again. But if they are only filming the “death/burial/burning scene conclusion” it won’t take that long and the hairgate is still a go. He could cut about half off that would grow back by this time next year, after he is out of Ireland this time.

I checked out the bag he has and it ain’t an overnight bag. Just sayin’. I could get quite a bit in something that size and I am a lady. He would be in costume for the shooting anyway, so he doesn’t need that much, right?

LOL. Glad we got this sooner than later. Half the “will he/won’t he” will slowly die down. For now, the frenzy of reporting begins. 😀

He totally has a piratey look about him. Still, he seems too young to be Euron since Euron is supposed to be a younger brother to Balon. He looks like he could be Theon’s brother (not really, just age-wise). He does have an amazing look though.

I have read the books twice, along with many of the other “supporting” books, and KNEW what was coming up, yet I still cried like a whimpering fool.
THIS line has kept my TV faith alive, since D&D like to mess with book storylines.

Eddie Jackson has an interesting look. Given his relative lack of credits, I doubt he’s anyone that “big” (he’s definitely not Euron). He could be an Ironborn though or one of the bandits mentioned in the casting call. Was also thinking from his appearance that he could be a new Frey. Would be nice to have one of those.

Jordan:
Eddie Jackson has an interesting look.Given his relative lack of credits, I doubt he’s anyone that “big” (he’s definitely not Euron).He could be an Ironborn though or one of the bandits mentioned in the casting call.Was also thinking from his appearance that he could be a new Frey.Would be nice to have one of those.

yes, he is definetely too young to be Euron. I also find he has somekind of a face of a “good” lad, meaning that I really can’t see him doing any evil characters.

No, they never film anything for future seasons during filming. At least not that I’ve ever heard of. They’ve got a tight enough schedule as it is, plus monies. They could’ve filmed Tywin’s corpse too during S4 but they didn’t.

Reading scripts with the cast? Maybe…
I don’t think he’s there (Kit), just for the funeral scene, The Wall’s storyline, always shooting (I think) in autum… I don’t know but I have big hopes for season 6.

phantomstrife:
Well, not to be a killjoy or anything but he still has to shoot a funeral scene. Time will tell whether there’s more to it.

Something they could have EASILY shot last season if they wanted to maintain the mystery. You only need him in a couple of shots. After that, you can replace him with another actor. So, the only reason you bring him back in this way is because he’s in MUCH MORE of the season or… because you truly want to fuck with people.

JCDavis: It was going to happen sooner or later. The Kit sighting. Even if only for the burial/burning scene…that couldn’t wait a whole season. But it does mean that “I won’t be in season 6″ statement was an out and out falsehood. Maybe it could be taken to mean “I won’t have anything new in season 6 to film”.

I know it sounds goofy to bring it up again. But if they are only filming the “death/burial/burning scene conclusion” it won’t take that long and the hairgate is still a go. He could cut about half off that would grow back by this time next year, after he is out of Ireland this time.

The funny thing is that the interview from Entertainment Weekly where Kit Harington says that he would not be there for season 6, was actually conducted around 7-8 months ago.
At that stage the season 6 scripts wasn’t even written yet, Kit Harington very likely just went overboard in his attempts to persuade people that Jon was truly gone from the show. At that stage he would not have had access to that information.

Tori Targaryen:
Yeah, I don’t remember Charles Dance having to tell people he wasn’t allowed in photos etc for his small cameo as Tywin’s corpse, so I think it’s safe to say there’s another reason Kit is trying his best to avoid having pics taken of him while in Belfast.

And Nell Tiger Free, back for her funeral, happily posed in Twitter pics with Bran and Tommen just a few days ago.

This whole secret thing is so stupid. D&D are relatively clueless it seems on a logical cliffhanger. The whole Battle at Castle Black white out when there were 10 more minutes left they could have used for the 10 minute Stannis scene…

Now this whole dead is dead BS…that’s spoiled immediately like in the first 5 seconds “back to school” for the actors. They could have just woke him up and left some ambiguous cliffhanger with a resurrected Jon Snow and not looked like fools.

Kit Harington rocks the man-bun, I have to say. Not everyone can pull it off.

I would have assumed that this Eddie Jackson was one of the outlaws from the casting call, but the news that he’ll be filming in Spain is throwing me off, since I assume the outlaws will be in the Riverlands.

Laura:
Doesn’t HBO have a private jet so they could avoid having Kit spotted amongst the commoners on a commercial flight?

This is why I think this is much ado about nothing. There are so many ways to sneak an actor onto a set without making him walk through a freaking public airport terminal. This actually screams, “Don’t overthink this. He’s not on the show anymore!”

Do you realize how hard it is to keep secrets regarding shows, actors, and plots. They are always being followed, taken a picture. it is not like D&D are going to the Belfast airport and trying to get secret entrances and private planes for just one actor. Unfortunately we live in a day and age that makes it so hard to keep secrets like a main character’s death at a season finale. Too Hard. Also, this story may never have jumped out if there didn’t happen to be a Watcher on the Wall journal on the same plane. So, I would calm down about the spoilers and D&D BS secret job. Too hard to keep things like that a secret. don’t want spoilers, don’t read these articles.

I doubt they would go to such great lengths. Also, this story may not have broke if there was a Watcher on the Wall reporter on the same plane. If that coincidence didn’t happen we may not have found out.

Ginevra: Half of me feels really bad for a guy who is being stalked by the entire GoT fandom.And the other half feels like he brought this attention on himself the moment he lied to us about coming back.

He would be stalked either way and he may have been under contract to not state the facts. Focus on the buns…top and bottom. *bites fist*

They were taking their cues from GRRM. The last two books could have been edited down to a single book which included the two battles that were cut and the immediate aftermath of Jon’s assassination. Instead, it was the land of cliffhangers and more cliffhangers, so the show ended on cliffhangers. Meh for me on both the two last books, and this season.

Ginevra: Half of me feels really bad for a guy who is being stalked by the entire GoT fandom.And the other half feels like he brought this attention on himself the moment he lied to us about coming back.

I’d go with the former if I were you. He’s in show business, not politics. If rendering a major plot point a surprise for as many viewers as possible maximises the show’s entertainment value, that’s exactly what they should do.

Rygar: He would be stalked either way and he may have been under contract to not state the facts.

Not saying is very different than lying. Assuming that Jon Snow has truly died but will be resurrected like Beric and LS, the directors and producers have not technically lied even though they have given many devious statements of misdirection. However, Kit saying he wouldn’t be back for Season 6 simply isn’t true, no matter how you spin it.

Well people say the interview was done months prior, before the scripts were even complete likely. So it is LIKELY that he was told that he was deader than dead… and not going to come back next year…. so he didn’t lie to us. D&D lied to him. Ha.

But if they did actually sign contracts till season 7… including Kit.. he probably would have put 2 and 2 together and figured he would be coming back somehow somewhere.

I agreed with you. He did not state the facts, essentially lied, and he may have been asked to do so by those that provide him with his paycheck, or like others have said, simply made the comments before he knew he would be back. Eventhough most of the fandom believe that GM will resurrect or reanimate Jon in the next book, the fact is we dont know 100% so I believe HBO are trying to be respectful of that.

This is why I think this is much ado about nothing. There are so many ways to sneak an actor onto a set without making him walk through a freaking public airport terminal. This actually screams, “Don’t overthink this. He’s not on the show anymore!”

Actually, having Kit come to work with the rest of the population makes sense. This is a free hype advertisement that D&D are probably sitting back laughing about.

Keep the buzz going as long as they can, why not? I would…

Plus this community is the only one paying attention to this. We are like what, 5% of the 20+ million that watch the show? If that?

Well either way, I am sure that everyone involved with the show is thrilled that people care this much about the characters/actors. I can’t think of another show that had people this nuts in the off-season.

Eddie Jackson looks like a Howland Reed to me. Looks about the right age (about 10 years younger than Ned). Spain filming would be the Tower of Joy scene, and the Belfast locations would be a part of the main story.

– literally ANY of the lesser players in a TOJ flashback
– Elder Brother/Meribald hybrid re-written as a veteran of the War of Five Kings instead of an older man… probably wouldn’t want to call him elder brother in that case.
– One of Euron’s creeps
– One of Yara’s dudes
– Robert’s bastard, though I can’t imagine why we would need another one of those in the show universe.
– secret lost Clegane brother, to be introduced WWE-style as a special guest referee for a certain forthcoming test of athleticism, righteousness, and skill-at-arms (confirmed)
– man with beard
– man without beard, if he shaves
– cock merchant
– Shagwell the Fool

Jon is sorta my self-insert for a few reasons, so I’m always rooting for him. He’s also one of the few genuinely good characters in a world full of Joffreys and Ramsays. The series needs characters like Jon to keep people hopeful that there’s some light at the end of the tunnel, especially after so much grimdark shit like Ned’s death, the Red Wedding, Oberyn’s death, Sansa’s rape, etc.

Finally, other than Sam who left for Oldtown, he’s been our only consistent POV character at the Wall and has been the glue holding things together for pretty much everything that goes on there. Killing him off for good would leave a huge vacuum that would be a real mess to fill with any other characters. So I’m pretty confident Kit’s not just there for a funeral scene and that Jon will continue to be integral to the Wall storyline and spearheading the defense against the Night’s King and his massive army.

I don’t think the people who decided to murder him would do him the courtesy of burning his body in a funeral pyre haha. And there definitely wouldn’t be this parade of secrecy and lies just to have them appear as a dead body for what would likely only be one scene.

I have a question for Sue or any of the site admins, if you are at liberty to answer. Is it possible that you know of certain castings before you are permitted by your source(s) to confirm them here? I know you have access to certain info (like Barristan being the actor interviewed about his death in EW) before us plebes and just don’t say or can’t say so I wondered if that is true about casting as well? Thanks!

A question about this supposed flashback: if they by chance started the first episode with ToJ flashback, the common viewer (who has not read the books) would understand what was going on? I don’t think so.

Wow great advert for our little site I’m British but vanity fair is quite big I believe?

It’s been referred to a lot by major entertainment sites. I used to Google ‘game of thrones’ for news, but this site always seemed to have news first, so I’ve been doing it a lot less recently. If there’s any news, it’ll be on here!

Ah, sigh of relief, this actually brightened my day. It may well have been a masterful bit of acting, but in those last interviews toward the end of the season, he seemed genuinely uncertain as to whether he’d be missed. I suppose that question has been answered.

Well it’s hardly going to be the mutineers who would have a ceremony. Tormund and gang, on the other hand, would definitely have him burned. And Edd and fellow loyalists would likely take the time while Wun Wun makes blood pudding out of a few of the FTWers. 😉

Dees, accchh, can’t remember the specific interview, I will try to find it later, but I do remember him saying something to that effect, because my immediate reaction was “What?! He doesn’t think he will be missed? Is he kidding?”

Pigeon: Tormund and gang, on the other hand, would definitely have him burned. And Edd and fellow loyalists would likely take the time while Wun Wun makes blood pudding out of a few of the FTWers.

Tormund was the one concerned with Ygritte being properly burned, so yes, such things matter to him. I liked their exchange in Hardhome that showed they were becoming friends: “Do you trust me, Jon Snow?” “Does that make me a fool?” “Then we are fools in this together.” Tormund is not going to be happy.

I’m amazed anyone thought Jon Snow was done with the show at any point!

New guy will be an extra or featured extra I think. His look doesn’t really strike me as anyone in particular. If anything he could be a northman.
I’m still keeping an eye on James Purefoy’s Twitter! 😛 If they’re filming nowish then I’m not sure it would conflict with Hap and Leonard or not. He’s pretty vague with his tweets but a week or so a go he posted a picture of where he was but never said where it was! It’s unlikely but we shall see.
Not massively keen on Phoenix. The look could possibly work but I’d have my worries over him being able to do the right accent.
Imagine if they shocked the world and announced Johnny Depp as Euron! 😛

Deesensfan: Those two interviews occurred the week before the finale… I find it funny that he was doing promos prior to being killed off or was he doing them for another movie?
I am not sure if one of those is the one you refer to.

I will check those out to see – it was in a couple of places where he expressed uncertainty – I found this interview, posted by Entertainment Weekly on June 14 right after the last episode aired. Within the whole interview, he talks about the Sopranos walk, and how D & D handled it, but I’ve copied the part that refers to his uncertainty:

EW: Last year you said the one thing you really want is for your character to learn that.
KH: And he doesn’t. So I don’t know. It’s really the way Thrones does things and I will be really interested to see the audience reaction. I hope it’s not, “F–k yes, thank f–k he’s dead.”

EW: I think they’ll be heartbroken—even those who are like, “Tyrion is my favorite character” or whatnot. You cannot have watched this show, and watch your character grow all these years, and not feel gut-kicked over the way your arc plays out.KH: I hope that’s the case.

Uh, yeah, Kit, that’s the case. You think he’s walking through that airport thinking: “Shite, I should have asked for more money?”

The development of Tormund’s character and the casting of Kristofer Hivju has been one of the show’s best moves – his unceremonious beatdown of Rattleshirt, expression when watching the massacre at Hardhome, arm around Karsi’s girls when approaching the Wall, his interactions with Jon….yeah there’s gonna be hell to pay.

Dees, accchh, can’t remember the specific interview,I will try to find it later, but I do remember him saying something to that effect, because my immediate reaction was “What?! He doesn’t think he will be missed? Is he kidding?”

I remember that. It’s a peculiarly British trait to demonstrate false modesty. No-one likes to blow their own trumpet unless it’s psyching out opponents in sport. Some people go overboard, though, by refusing to accept compliments. That’s just rude. It’s an art form!

This will be true both for book and show. In the book, it might be crazier: not only are lots of Wildlings there who have owe Jon a huge (if begrudged) debt for saving them, but members of the Watch loyal to Jon are presents. And, of course, in the book

Selyse is still there with a small contingent of knights: and although they are not Stannis’ best men, they still would all be better armed and trained than almost anybody else present.

Of course, the question is: on which side are they?

The biggest wildcard is Melisandre. In both book and show she is in the vicinity, and she’s starting to wonder how important Jon is. On the show, she knows Stannis is toast; in the books, she might be suspecting he is. We’ve not really seen her unleashed yet: that could be in the works.

Eddie Jackson does have a piratey look, but he is too young to play Euron in the show-verse. He looks younger than Alfie Allen. Edmure was only 6 years older than Robb, but the show made the age difference more visible.
If he is playing any character from the books, my bet is on Dickon Tarly (dark hair that matches Sam’s) or Young Brandon. With those eyebrows, he could also play a Targaryen..

aabe: Eddie Jackson does have a piratey look, but he is too young to play Euron in the show-verse.

It’s possible that the character will be a hybrid of Euron and Aurane Waters, too. For all the Euron hype, GRRM gives as much setup for Waters, who basically steals the fleet that Cersei builds. If I recall, then he’s declared himself a pirate king or something like that.

Moreover, the fact that Jackson doesn’t look much older than Theon doesn’t mean too much. This is a world where it would not be uncommon for the oldest brother in a family to have children near as old as his youngest siblings. Moreover, it really is not that tough to have someone play a part a bit older than him/herself. Beside, wasn’t Euron altered by sorcery in some manner, anyway?

Yes! you named all the Tor-muuund (Wun Wun) scenes I loved, too. The tears in the eyes, that was so appropriate, so moving. Whacking down Rattleshirt like a boss, which I think he will be, the new leader of the remaining Wildings. He’s a keeper. You hear that, D & D (and GRRM) a KEEPER, as in Do Not KIll!

Dany:
A question about this supposed flashback: if they by chance started the first episode with ToJ flashback, the common viewer (who has not read the books) would understand what was going on? I don’t think so.

If ToJ is the first scene of S6, then the viewer can soon find out Ned is there. Maybe they use Sean Bean, or maybe a younger actor (this Eddie Jackson, perhaps). But viewers can’t not recognize a Stark fighter – he will have the sigil, banner etc. And friends who call them by name. And Arthur Dayne will be wearing Kingsguard clothes which everyone can recognize. If they show Ned taking the baby from a dying Lyanna(I want Jenna Coleman for this role-she looks like Maisie and has brown eyes like Kit), everything will be clear. But if they just show the fight(ie only Ned’s dream), the significance may be lost. Problem is that only Bran can have this vision, and Bran did not know Arthur Dayne. If we had some more mentions of Arthur Dayne (Joffrey does in S4E1), it will make more impact. But maybe they can use the memory of Ned telling Bran that ‘the greatest knight I ever knew was Ser Arthur Dayne, who was called the Sword of the Morning and carried the greatsword, Dawn’.

Wimsey: It’s possible that the character will be a hybrid of Euron and Aurane Waters, too.For all the Euron hype, GRRM gives as much setup for Waters, who basically steals the fleet that Cersei builds.If I recall, then he’s declared himself a pirate king or something like that.

Moreover, the fact that Jackson doesn’t look much older than Theon doesn’t mean too much.This is a world where it would not be uncommon for the oldest brother in a family to have children near as old as his youngest siblings.Moreover, it really is not that tough to have someone play a part a bit older than him/herself.Beside, wasn’t Euron altered by sorcery in some manner, anyway?

The basis for the belief that Euron will be cast is in the casting call that requested an actor to play a major role as a pirate in his 40s/50s.

Wouldn’t say it’s false modesty. We do tend to dismiss or critique compliments though as a sort of default reaction. More because we feel embarassed by them and the attention and want to demean it somehow to lessen the embarassment more than because we’re trying to appear modest! It’s also a sly British way of politely dismissing an idea! Sean seems like a very down-to-earth Yorkshireman so he probably genuinely doesn’t think he’d be add anything else to the show by coming back…to which I’d have to agree.

Jon Snow is dead? Well, we don’t really know if they want us to think he’s dead or not. Maybe it was controlled leak to convince us he’s alive if he’s not? One thing is certain: they will not let us forget about the show.

Pigeon: I have a lovely side story in my mind of Edd and Wun Wun forming an uneasy truce and becoming the best begrudging duo of the show

LOL, that would be perfect GoT. Yes, gotta mention Edd, so they don’t decide to kill him off, too. I hadn’t realized how attached I was to Pyp & Grenn until they ended up on the burn pile last season, No killing Edd, no killing Tormund, no killing Sam, no killing Wun Wun. Who else? oh, no killing Davos, either. It goes without saying, no killing Arya, Bran or Sansa, but I think they are relatively safe. Except if blind Arya walks into the sea.

GRRM and D&D have made their point about the uncertainty of life, but that goes hand in hand with … Life having a way of carrying on, as well, and humans managing to pull or create happiness and survival out of the most dire situations. Else none of us would be here now, finding delight in the discussion of Finding delight in life. Plot twists and shocks are interesting, yes. But it’s time for some goodness. Somewhere.

Ashara Dayne: The basis for the belief that Euron will be cast is in the casting call that requested an actor to play a major role as a pirate in his 40s/50s.

Yeah, but they have casted contrary to their own calls before, so I think what Wimsey is saying is at least worth rubbing my chin and saying HMMMM over… Or maybe I’m just forcing myself to buy it because of how happy I’d be with a major role for Aurane Waters in the endgame of the books.

If there is ANY role for Aurane Waters on the show, it would have to be a Euron hybrid like Wimsey described, since the character was never introduced during Cersei’s glorious reign of S5 (Mace Tyrell is Lord of Ships AND Master of Coin on TV IIRC) and it’s fairly inconceivable that the TV format could support two separate “Pirate King” characters.

That’s mildly surprising. I don’t expect there’s any reason to tote him around on campaign in the North, so perhaps we’ll see Littlefinger in the Vale at the start of the season preparing to leave (which, now that I think about it, would make sense given that the final confrontation in the North will almost certainly be toward the end of the season).

Very true.
I would almost argue though that if a certain someone comes back he could be considered a hero as well. Which would mean that Ned isn’t the only hero.

Jon has been extraordinary from the start, it just wasn’t revealed to us. But from the moment they found the direwolves in the first episode, you knew he stood out. And apart from being with Ygritte (breaking his vow) he has been good.

Considering my favourite still-living-and-on-the-show-right-at-the-moment character is Jorah, I don’t make the most hopeful choices of the lot, do I? Of course, as I didn’t expect him to survive Season 6, I suppose that’s a ‘win’. 😛

Pigeon: Considering my favourite still-living-and-on-the-show-right-at-the-moment character is Jorah, I don’t make the most hopeful choices of the lot, do I? Of course, as I didn’t expect him to survive Season 6, I suppose that’s a ‘win’

Darn, I forgot to hop the continent – I’m rooting for Varys, too. If you notice, I didn’t mention any of the other major characters. There’s no telling how they will ultimately end up, although Tyrion seems to always gain the upper hand in any situation, so I imagine he’ll still be around at the end.

But sadly, I don’t think Jorah will make it very long – the grayscale will become visible, and he will either be put out of his misery or sacrifice himself. Sorry, Pigeon, I know you swoon over his voice and smooth manner, but his time is almost at an end.

Howland Reed is a little ( 5’6″ or under) Crannogman, so unless Eddie Jackson is a little guy, I’d have to say no, not likely a Howland Reed.

Most actors are about 4 feet tall. It’s a little known fact… a tall actor is someone over 5 feet. Actors over 6 feet have to be filmed while standing in a deep hole so as not to tower over the munchkins of Hollywood.

TheTouchOfFrost: I’d agree with that assetation in theory but the casting call asked for someone in their 40-50s I believe. So unless they’ve drastically changed their mind in a short space of time…

Ah, I’d forgotten that. It wouldn’t be a case of changing their minds so much as getting floored by someone. That almost happened with Lord of the Rings: they almost went with the then quite young Stuart Townsend for Aragorn, before realizing that it just wouldn’t work. However, Euron hardly has the impact of an Aragorn, so they would be more willing to be flexible if it came down to it.

Still, that does make it much less probable that they are going for some hybridization.

One possibility I have not seen explains much –
Jon Snow is dead – all hail Jon Stark, released from his vows to the Black Watch by death, resurrected, and in possession of Stannis’ letter making him a Stark to re-take Winterfell.
So, nobody lied, just failed to mention the name change….

Along those same lines, Jon and Dani have never met, much less filmed a scene together. The day after the finale,Buzzfeed threw out this click bait titled “GoT are best friends in real life” or something. This gif was right in the middle of the pack, 26. And even when it’s fricking freezing, they’re happy to be around each other.”

Considering I’ve been able to see him from Season 1, Episode 1, he’s a rare breed to have made it this far, so I feel lucky regardless. I had expected his stoniness to be a lot more aggressive and we’d have that sacrifice near the end of Season 6. I almost feel as though they’re keeping him on longer with something bigger in mind. He has a habit of saving the lives of the main characters at personal cost, yet continues to do it anyway (I think his willingness to spring into action lessens the slightly pathetic aspect of his personality that would normally bug me – he doesn’t sit around moping unless he’s forced to be out of action). One of my favourite moments this year was Jorah’s expression when Tyrion told him that he’d killed Tywin. Iain Glen has a wonderful expressiveness without words.

He had a number of moments in episode 9 that could have been a fitting or sacrificial ending (especially after Dany *forgives* him), but it didn’t happen. Interesting, at any rate. I will just hold my episodes of Jack Taylor close and look forward to Cleverman in the meantime. 😉

Oh, Jon is not really a Hero in the classic sense. Yes, Jon always tries to do the “right” thing: but Heroes succeed by doing the right thing. Hero Jon does not get assassinated for saving the Wildlings: Hero Jon makes the rest of the Night’s Watch look at their feet in shame and start singing “I’d like to buy the world an ale and furnish it with love….” in perfect harmony. If Hero Jon dies (and true Hero Jon would), then it would have been holding off the Evil Night King so that the last of the Wildlings could escape (leading to looking of feet and perfect harmony). But that also would have been the end of the story.

Instead, Jon is a very traditional protagonist. He’s been having a life-long identity crisis that we’ve got to witness in detail for either 5 years (TV) or some undisclosed number of years/months/weeks (books). He does not simply try to do Good: he tries to do well, and that’s a huge different concept. Moreover, the nature of his assassination is how a protagonist is taken out: yet another good deed fails to go unpunished!

That is why the idea that he’s going to be reborn as some SuperHero is so odd to me. In the final analyses (and assuming that Jon’s character has not been scratched for contractual purposes), then what is going to matter most in the end is “delta” Jon: that is, the difference between Spring Jon and Thrones Jon, as that evolution (plus the same changes in Daeny and Tyrion, and possibly Arya, Bran & Sansa as well) is going to be the crux of the finale for the whole damn series. Superheroes do not fit into that!

Allen: One possibility I have not seen explains much –
Jon Snow is dead – all hail Jon Stark, released from his vows to the Black Watch by death, resurrected, and in possession of Stannis’ letter making him a Stark to re-take Winterfell.
So, nobody lied, just failed to mention the name change…

Well, given that Jon has a Honor Stick up his rectum that would make a brontosaur yelp with pain, I doubt that a little thing like “death” will seem enough for him to want to skip out on his vows. There also would the issue that the rest of the world would still see him as a deserter. And Ser Alliser would certainly consider it 13 birthdays wrapped into one to get to kill Jon again!

Moreover: RICKON! (Why does everyone forget about him?) Jon’s honor stick will make him defer to Sansa and Rickon indefinitely.

My guess is that if Jon re-rises, then that will basically push the loyal NW and Wildlings into making Jon King Crow. That written, there is one big wild-card: where is Ramsay going to go once he figures out that Sansa and Theon are not hiding somewhere in Winterfell? That could have a huge effect on what Jon does (assuming that he’s coming back).

Johnny Depp? Can’t really see it I’m afraid. Always thought Alfie Allen looked like Mick Jagger and David Bowie’s lovechild! I assume he was conceived during the ‘Dancing in the Street’ collaboration! 😛
There’s a bit of a young Michael Caine about him too!

TheTouchOfFrost: I’m still surprised that they cast in such a short space of time. I would have thought they’d headhunt a couple of contenders to reduce the pressure of finding someone in such a short space of time?

Well, time is of the essence. Remember, they are doing the equivalent of three feature films that have to start coming out in less than 9 months. Now, I do not know how big a role Euron is going to have, but assuming that it is about the same size as Doran’s role, then they really cannot wait too much longer.

The reality of it is, given the wealth of good actors out there, it should not be too tough to fill the Euron or Tarley roles (or whatever they are, on the off chance that we are all wrong) quickly.

I was in Belfast last November and was told then by someone close to the production that Mads Mikkelsen was in Belfast for talks re Euron. Didn’t know if he’d signed though, but I won’t be surprised if he has. Hannibal is in it’s last season in the US now.

Either no one makes it to the end (that long forgotten red comet will take everyone out), or the people who least deserve it will.

To be sure. I think it is about the collective sigh of relief I hear knowing that Kit Harington is in da house. Always a mistake. 😉 I learned from the movie Jaws….just when you think it is safe to go back in the water, that two note death knell begins to toll. It is Game of Thrones and no one ever is safe at any time. If one thinks they have it all figured out? They just haven’t been paying attention.

I remember in Season three I was sure I knew the happy ending. Danys would marry Robb Stark and Westeros would live happily ever after……PSYCHE!!!!

The idea of Jon forming a new group with Tormund and other Wildlings and loyal followers would make a parallel with Dany meeting up with the horse lords. In Jon’s case to battlethe threat but wwith more of a roaming approach. What Davos said about the Boltons not being good for the north will come into play

Agree about the British modesty thing! It also extends to some of the colonies (we NZer’s are notorious for it too – although maybe that’s because we’re genuinely mediocre?). But wait, were we talking about Kit or Sean? I don’t have links but Kit I seem to recall was very aware of the criticism of both the character and his performance in the early seasons – unjustified in my opinion, but that’s beside the point. Anyway, there were a couple of interviews where he said he made the classic mistake of checking out the fan websites, as he was a fan himself (I believe he name-checked WIC a few years ago), but quickly learned to stop doing that! So, maybe it wasn’t modesty, maybe he is truly unaware of Jon’s popularity, and how much he himself is liked by the fandom.

I was in Belfast last November and was told then by someone close to the production that Mads Mikkelsen was in Belfast for talks re Euron.Didn’t know if he’d signed though, but I won’t be surprised if he has. Hannibal is in it’s last season in the US now.

If he had signed last November (or at anytime up till last month) then either the recent Casting Call must have been for a different character or he has since dropped out of the role.

You don’t go to the trouble of auditioning for a role you cast 6 months before.

It’d be really fun if Armitage was cast as Euron and Graham McTavish was cast as Randyll Tarly (like I sincerely hope he will be) and they faced off at Oldtown. Thorin and Dwalin would have some unfinished business to take care of, it would seem.

He is really dead. I don’t think anyone is arguing about that. It’s what is going to happen post-death that we’re all wondering about.

I’m arguing against it. 😉 In the books I think there are definite signs that he’s a berserker or ,more precisely, the wolf-form, ulfheddin. It’s true that in the show they had Jon stabbed many more times than in the books, but I suspect he can rise from either situation ..It’s a world where magic exists, after all. There may even be a clue in the fact that only Starks warg Direwolves – bigger, stronger, fiercer..

While we can understand the reasons that the show has to minimize the use of the direwolves (legal restrictions, CGI costs) they would not have those problems in showing the berserker aspect of the bond.

I agree with Wimsey that we shouldn’t forget about Rickon.. but Rickon will need someone to teach him to be a war leader.. and since he was just a toddler when the warg bond was made and was always wilder and more wolf-like.. Jon may ultimately be the best mentor for him (after Jon’s own bond is fully realised and understood, of course).

I think the story (Book and show) will be best served by a whole living Jon Snow .. and by a Melisandre who recognises the error of her ways only when it’s too late to do anything about it.

JCDavis:
Do we need to be reminded, those who are having warm and fuzzy thoughts about those who they want to make it to the end…..

If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.

In the next two seasons I predict a STUPID amount of people are going to die.

No, I don’t have to be reminded, I’ve thought about that a lot — and have decided to believe that it’s going to twist back on Ramsay. HE thinks there is going to be a happy ending for Himself. All busy telling Myranda how he WAS going to marry her, but he’s officially a young lord now and must help create a dynasty by marrying a girl of higher caliber – or something to that effect. So he believes in happy endings. For Ramsay. Wouldn’t it be delicious if someone was able to say those words back at him, just before they ran him through?

Wimsey: Hero Jon makes the rest of the Night’s Watch look at their feet in shame and start singing “I’d like to buy the world an ale and furnish it with love….” in perfect harmony. If Hero Jon dies (and true Hero Jon would), then it would have been holding off the Evil Night King so that the last of the Wildlings could escape (leading to looking of feet and perfect harmony). But that also would have been the end of the story.

Wimsey, you did good, er…well. Um, I liked what you wrote, plus you made me laugh out loud picturing Alliser sing “in per_fect harmony.”

Mind you, at your first sentences, I was gritting my teeth, ready to pounce on you, but … yeah everything you wrote makes sense. He’s a wonderfully, gloriously imperfect human, with human frailties, making human mistakes. Yet, with an exceptional brain pattern that sparks invariably towards goodness, wellness and myriad positive traits that make such humans as close to heroes as we may ever see.

Oh, and if anybody cares, we (Watchers on the Wall) were mentioned by name on Huffington Post this afternoon, as well.

I was talking about Sean. I guess Kit may just not want to know what the public perception of him is. I think if someone gets in the habit of living for their profile then they risk losing themselves. I think he’s a smart enough lad to not do that.

The reason I thought Jon could be considered a hero is because he reminded me of other “heroes” such as Batman, Superman, etc. All these heroes were destined to be heroes but went through an identity crisis as well. Is it because it was obvious to the reader/viewer in those cases that these people were heroes, so it makes them heroes? I would compare Jon to them. I perceived it to be obvious that he was special and that he would be heroic. I am not a writer and your explanation makes it clear that he is a protagonist with the ability to do heroic things. This is why readers/viewers tend to consider him a hero.

Well, it was a noble effort. Gold stars for everyone involved. This may prove to be the only time in Game of Thrones’ history when filming in Northern Ireland works to the show’s disadvantage. The country’s film industry has greatly expanded in recent years (thanks in significant part to Game of Thrones), but it’s still not enough of a hotspot to provide cover for the actors’ comings and goings that somewhere like Los Angeles might be able to.

It will be interesting to see just how long the production is able to maintain even the veneer of plausible deniability. At this point, it could still be weakly argued that Kit’s just visiting friends in the area, or he’s only back to film a short scene involving Jon’s body. But as filming proceeds in earnest over the next few months, the chances of something more substantial leaking are only going to increase. Last year, security around the sets in Northern Ireland was tighter than ever, so I’m not expecting we’ll see a photo of Kit in costume or anything on that level. But a reported sighting of him near Magheramorne quarry or another location in Northern Ireland is definitely in play. Hell, it could even be anecdotal evidence of him visiting a pub in Belfast with other cast members (those pub visits have been a time-honored tradition of the Game of Thrones filming season for years. It would be a shame if Kit had to stay away from those just to maintain the fiction and avoid getting mobbed).

I don’t expect David, Dan, or anyone involved in the production are ever going to openly confirm that Kit is returning. But eventually, they’re going to have to do press for the new season, and when they do, someone’s going to confront them with all of the evidence that’s been gathered by all of the amateur detectives out there. The best they can do is keep interviews and public appearances to a minimum, keep Kit out of all the Season 6 promotional materials, and try to maintain the surprise for casual fans. If the flat-out denials ever morph into “no comments”, we’ll know that they’ve thrown up their hands.

Since Ghost and warging have played a somewhat ongoing if inconsistent role in the series, I have held out hope that Jon Snow, once mostly if not completely dead, would warg into Ghost who would journey north to track the White Walkers, discover their magic and their motives, and use that information to end winter and war.
The Red Woman would do her own magic to keep the remains of JS from decaying or zombie-flying.
This is my theory and my hope. I need to see some sort of romance between the two main protagonists, Fire and Ice. Why else the title or plot?

Ah, I see. I see Jon is a bit closer to a Marvel comic hero than a DC one: and they’ve always included a lot of tormented individuals! Marvel traditionally went for more “iconic” heroes like Superman, etc. However, it was DC that actually got that ball rolling: Batman (who started off as a really messed up dude, particularly for the era in which they started writing him) probably is the impetus for modern “I hate life and myself, but criminals more” comic-book hero. DC has gone that way in recent decades, too: my understanding is that Superman is now more Clark Kent moonlighting as Superman, and less a disguise.

Thronetender: Wimsey, you did good, er…well. Um, I liked what you wrote, plus you made me laugh out loud picturing Alliser sing “in per_fect harmony.”

Mind you, at your first sentences, I was gritting my teeth, ready to pounce on you, but … yeah everything you wrote makes sense.

heh, it’s all in the delivery: make ’em think that you are going one direction, and then throw them a curveball! (Or a googly.) But I’m glad that you appreciate the reference…

But this is a big reason why I don’t see Jon being too much different after this. Oh, sure, he will be affected, much as he was affected by losing Ygritte: but he’ll be Jon Plus, not Jon Minus in the way that Beric seems to be Beric Minus every time. I mean, one does not throw away that much dynamic character growth: does one?!?!

If someone cared enough one could cross-reference with Charles Dance’s involvement in filming last year. How much time did he spend on location? Did he go for the early cast read-throughs (or whatever they’re called)?

Somebody comes into every thread saying obviously if he were a corpse they’d have shot that scene in season 5’s production. Well… Charles Dance.

There must be some threshold at which you can’t justify Kit’s participation as merely corpse (if you can’t get how obvious it is that the character isn’t gone). Likewise Nelly Tigress. Is she a corpse cried over? Or a vegetable retained for her mother to cry over?

And has Tommen not really killed himself? At the final hour of season 5, maybe the froggy prediction had come true and it just wasn’t all shown.

I don’t think there was a read-through last year and IIRC Charles Dance only shot one day in Belfast for s5. Kit going to the read-through and being around Belfast for much of pre-production and now being on set once the shoot’s begun…points pretty clearly to what so many of us were expecting.

Ah, I see.I see Jon is a bit closer to a Marvel comic hero than a DC one: and they’ve always included a lot of tormented individuals!Marvel traditionally went for more “iconic” heroes like Superman, etc.However, it was DC that actually got that ball rolling: Batman (who started off as a really messed up dude, particularly for the era in which they started writing him) probably is the impetus for modern “I hate life and myself, but criminals more” comic-book hero.DC has gone that way in recent decades, too: my understanding is that Superman is now more Clark Kent moonlighting as Superman, and less a disguise.

Good analysis. In some ways Jon reminds me of a character that may have been the original Marvel anti-hero – Sub Mariner. He started out fighting one group (surface dwellers/wildlings) on behalf of “his” people (Atlanteans/people of the realm) but made common cause with his foes when a greater threat arose (Nazi’s/Others).

But the fictional character who Jon might most remind me of is Larry Underwood from The Stand. He was on the side of “good”. But as a character in King’s novel described him:

Because there’s a hard streak in you. There’s something in you that’s like biting on tinfoil

.

To the extent Jon’s death affects him, it may bring out this “toughness” trait a bit (“kill the boy/let the man be born”). But I would hope it doesn’t fundamentally change his character.

Lita:
I believe he will be in season 6. He will be in some ones dreams or Bran will communicate with him often. Thoughts?

If you can watch Season 1, Episode 1 over, you will see a distinct closeness between Jon and Bran. Robb is standing a bit to the side; it is Jon who is gently instructing Bran how to hold a bow and arrow, Jon who tells Bran not to look away when Ned beheads the deserter, Jon makes a special effort to say goodbye to Bran, even tho Cat sits there giving him the stink eye – always Jon and Bran. Yet, I didn’t make any particular connection between the two. The episode at Craster’s Keep, when they almost got together, I was sad, but Bran had his mission and had to leave.

Not until people started talking about Bran having visions, or sending telepathic messages to Jon, did I make anything of all those scenes. I believe it now, I believe what many of you have been posting: I think the early closeness shown between them was totally deliberate and will be a major element to this story. Can’t wait to see how it goes down. It will be eerie, it will be awesome.

So Jon is pretty much the Jesus/King Arthur hero who will find out he is a secret king and duel wield magic swords, get cool warg powers, have a badass wolf and probably get a dragon as bonus. Jon Snuh was killed off just to fullfill a prophecy, that is so lame fricken lame.

“Good” would be following whatever the moral code of Jon’s people is supposed to be: and that does not include helping Wildlings. “Well” is basically working for a “greater good”: trying to help as many people as possible regardless of which side they belong. What Jon is doing is treason (bad!) for a greater good (saving the wildlings and pragmatic defense against the White Walkers): so, he’s doing well by others (but not Others) at his own expense.

I think that GRRM (and B&W) are going somewhere with this. Daeny is doing something very similar, and we see Tyrion showing a lot more concern or at least even awareness of the common man than typical. I don’t know exactly where they are going with this, but I’ll eat a non-chocolate hate if this does not describe the path.

If Jon Snow dies, WHY the big deal about who his mother was??? The ONLY way that who Jon Snow’s mother is important is if he survives and is a major player towards the end. Also, since Ned is dead and everyone else who was around back when Ned “had” Jon, the only way we will be able to verify Jon’s origins is if he has special powers that will manifest themselves when needed, ie. if Jon has Targ blood, he may have some control over the dragons which will be important in the future.

Comes down to, Jon IS ALIVE because it was important WHO his mother was.

Cersei’s Lament: Totally unrelated, but I just saw this on TV. *Please* tell me this is not Tormund Giantsbae!

LOLOL, yes, it is. He is the Wyndham Wizard:

From Advertising Age website, By Felicia Greiff. Published on May 11, 2015

“Hotel Company Hikes Digital Spending Six-Fold
Wyndham Hotel Group is investing $100 million over the next 18 months to market its new loyalty program — and is also increasing its digital spending six-fold over last year to $5.2 million.

The campaign advertising a revamped, simplified rewards program features a whimsical character called the Wyndham Rewards Wyzard. The wizard, whose catchphrase is “You’ve Earned This,” will be played by Kristofer Hivju, a Norwegian actor known for his role as Tormund Giantsbane on HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

See, this is why I was all in favor of “For the watch” taking place early on in Season 6. Sure, we don’t know how Jon is brought back to life, but we now know he is because he is filming, ruining the surprise for a lot of unsullied. Just imagine if he would have died S6 E3. For a week everyone would have been freaking out, because they actually would have thought he was dead rather than this anti-climactic death we know is temporary

I am starting to think that Melisandre has something to do with Jon being stabbed. I think she (obviously) sees that Stannis is not the Mannis because she only sees Snow (with a capital S). Earlier in ADWD Jon is amazed at how many NW and Wildlings decide to follow Mel and her red religion (some are faking it), but she may have been able to convince the others to kill Jon to release the man… in her mind Azor Ahai.
“For the Watch” could be said because they truly believe Mel and this is the right thing to do. Bowen Marsh is actually crying when he stabs Jon. Not something usually done out of anger with straight-up murder on the mind.
There is info in the big World of Ice and Fire book that talks about an ice dragon that is frozen under the wall. That could be a “dead” Jon Snow being held in one of the much talked about ice cells under the wall waiting to be reborn.
Double-triple confirmation that Jon is the ice to Danys soon to be evil fire.

But I think Bronn is ok, anyway, really do. He WILL have his castle and his sons and his wine and the better wife that Jaime promised him. It will be the one thing Jaime can do that maybe won’t get f****d up.

suprbert:
Isn’t it possible that the guy just went to Belfast? He’s Irish, right? Perhaps it’s got nothing at all to do with GoT.

And there’s some speculation that Rose lives in Belfast because he’s been seen there recently with her. I think one of the big things people are latching onto is that multiple people have said he politely declines any pictures because its not appropriate right now. IF these stories are true (and who knows?) it would be different than what other actors who have returned for “funeral scenes” have done (see Tiger Free). All that said, as I just observed myself: that’s an awful small suitcase he’s carrying if he plans to be in Belfast for a long shoot.

Per another post I saw, either above or somewhere else, Kit also picked up the rest of his luggage. The pic shows his carry on bag, while on his way to collect the rest.
I need to say I feel for him too with all the speculation. I’m as keen as everyone else to know he’s back in S6 ‘properly/fully’ but it must be so disheartening to be friendly and pleasant to fans and politely say ‘no pics please etc’, then to have them hit the web within minutes.

I like the way you think. Yeah, he’s dead, but he’s reborn as something different.

I dunno, all these theories sound so good but given how much I don’t want to believe it, the pessimist in me says yeah, its true. Even if it makes no sense to the story, its true, he’s dead. Sooo – I am now prepared to be pleasantly surprised 🙂

I certainly don’t envy stars like Kit much in situations like these (or in general to be honest). It would get pretty damn annoying to have people following me around all day, pestering me with questions about the fate of the character I portray, keeping tabs on everywhere I go and the condition of my hair, and snapping and spreading pics without my knowledge and/or permission. I wouldn’t be able to keep my composure for very long before telling someone to fuck off.

So here’s to me never playing a famous character in a popular movie or TV show!

In the interview Kit said that he was told he was done for good, that he got the “Soprano’s” walk with D&D, then he said, I’m done. I’m not coming back for season 6.

Assuming that he just decided to go ahead and lie on his own is kind of ludicrous, specially considering he can’t cut his hair by contract.

In the Oxford video in which Kit, D&D and John Bradley participated last year, Kit said that he felt he was not paid for acting in the show, but actually for all the publicity and the loss of privacy… Back when I saw the video, I thought he was referring to the notoriety of being in a worldwide show. But after S5 finale and all the crazyness about his hair, whether he is or not in Belfast, and not being allowed to appear in pictures when he usually is one of the actors that poses for bunches of pictures with fans, his commentary has taken a completely new dimension.

He carried the secret of Jon’s death for almost a year, and now he has to put up with lots of people calling him a liar (when he probably is following the producers’ instructions) and other people just pressing him to tell what will happen in S6.

In the interview Kit said that he was told he was done for good, that he got the “Soprano’s” walk with D&D, then he said, I’m done. I’m not coming back for season 6.

Assuming that he just decided to go ahead and lie on his own is kind of ludicrous, specially considering he can’t cut his hair by contract.

In the Oxford video in which Kit, D&D and John Bradley participated last year, Kit said that he felt he was not paid for acting in the show, but actually for all the publicity and the loss of privacy… Back when I saw the video, I thought he was referring to the notoriety of being in a worldwide show. But after S5 finale and all the crazyness about his hair, whether he is or not in Belfast, and not being allowed to appear in pictures when he usually is one of the actors that poses for bunches of pictures with fans, his commentary has taken a completely new dimension.

He carried the secret of Jon’s death for almost a year, and now he has to put up with lots of people calling him a liar (when he probably is following the producers’ instructions) and other people just pressing him to tell what will happen in S6.

Sorry, anyone who calls Kit a “liar” is a out of line. He was either telling the truth, following the company line, or honestly had no idea at the time. Kit’s an actor on a TV show. He owes you his performance. He, and the other actors, don’t owe you anything beyond that. He’s not resposible for the creative direction of the show, or how story points are doled out. Even if he “lied”, he did so likely to let GRRM have first dibs at the story reveal, or was helping to preserve the surprise for audiences. Not exactly nefarious reasons. That someone here is calling him a “liar” is just another example of the kind of entitlement that is beginning to infect so much of this fandom.

The Belfast shoot goes on until December. So he wouldn’t have to be there for too long a block of time at any point. Unlike the Croatia or Spain shoot which is very concentrated, the NI one is usually just a few days here and there over a period of several months.

A great point. For the Watch could have been the last scene of S06E01. It would have been a heckuva way to start off the season. With that moved, S05E10 could have had more room for a better Stannis death scene. He deserved more screen time.

Yep, I’d find my short fuse pretty fast too, so kudos to him for doing it as best and as nicely as he can – however it turns out.
I also believe that it’s more than likely they *all* are being coy so as to give GRRM the courtesy of getting his book out first without advanced spoilers.

He actually took a photo with someone on the plane on his way over to Belfast that I linked here last year (IIRC from someone’s instagram). IIRC the fan who’d taken the picture even said that Dance flat-out told him he was going to shoot a single scene as Tywin’s corpse. So yeah, this Kit situation is quite different.

As for who Eddie Jackson will be playing, very likely someone from the first or second batch of casting calls (probably the second). Last year there were no notable parts that weren’t included on the s5 casting calls (yes, Varamyr was gender-swapped to Karsi and Luther’s name was changed to Malko, but those don’t really count, I’d say), so it’s sure to be the same this time around too (though of course there will be more casting calls throughout the shoot).

Here’s what I think. The Nightswatch a-holes who stabbed him to death will just probably burn his body unceremoniously so why the need for a corpse scene a la Aemon or Ygritte or Tywin or Joffrey? Does he have to go all the way to Belfast for an unceremonious burning of his corpse? C’mon, that’s like adding salt to a freakin’ wound. Even in Stannis’ death, they didn’t show his body to at least leave the man some honour.

But then again, what the heck do I know? I just feel wrong about the corpse scene idea.

Robb Snow,
Not sure where you’re from but if you haven’t seen it, Richard Armitage was in a British show called Spooks (about spies) which had a ridiculously high death rate, so if he gets to be in GoT he’ll feel right at home! Kit was in the recent film version of it…hmmm coincidence? Maybe not 😉

Deesensfan,
Using some ninja skills I learned from the guy I sit next to who is good at IT, I can tell you this was posted 11 months ago here so it’s a least that old 🙂 or 🙁 depending on whether that’s a good or bad thing, I know you love the Snow!

I do love the Snow 🙁 (never thought I would say such a sentence considering I live in Canada and we get a lot of snow for around 5 months)
Well, first I was like 🙂 if this is new, he is with the cast so that’s good. Then I was like wait, 🙁 he said he couldnt take pictures so why is he taking one now, is it because he is dead forever? LOL
But thank you and your friend’s Ninja skills for clarifying! 😀

Ravyn: Sorry, anyone who calls Kit a “liar” is a out of line. He was either telling the truth, following the company line, or honestly had no idea at the time.

Indeed, as he is still under contract, they could just tell him that his character is dead, but that they’ll still need him for some scenes in the future, so he has to keep his schedule open. Strictly speaking, that would be entirely true, even if Jon is brought back to life!

Deesensfan,
You need to take it one step at a time like recovering alcoholics do. I think pretty much everyone believes he’s dead, but most of us are on the coming-back-in-some-form train. Whatever the outcome it won’t be before next April, so at the moment he’s just normal dead(!). Everyday think to yourself he’s only dead, not dead-dead. If he does come back (I’m still 99.9% yes on this) you can yay and you won’t have wasted 9-10 months worrying he was dead-dead. And in the fairly unlikely event the other thing happens at least you had 9-10 months of happiness before GoT yet again ripped out a viewer’s heart, threw it on the floor, stamped on it a few times and gave it the finger for good measure. Besides, I’ve heard rumours that *whispers* it’s not actually a documentary but something called ‘a work of fiction’. People who say this are clearly idiots 😀

Wimsey: Actually, Barristan merely stated that Rhaegar could play and play well. Elsewhen, we are told that he could fight quite well.

We were told that Rhaegar loved to sing while he didn’t love to kill, thank goodness! But that wouldn’t make him slight or bad at killing.

Barristan: Rhaegar would take a spot on the Hook or the Street of Seeds and he’d sing. Just like all the other minstrels….
Dany: He was good?
Barristan: He was very good. Viserys never told you?
Dany: He told me Rhaegar was good at killing people.
Barristan: Rhaegar never liked killing. He loved singing.

They would have used a prop dummy to play “dead Jon Snow”. I assume this means Melisandre brought him back to life as most expected. I’m still surprised they didn’t just skip that story line altogether next season. There were enough other ones they could have not mentioned the wall in 10 episodes and gone on to bring Jon back after people had moved on from that story. But I’m glad he’s back. The character’s I’m most interested in are Tyrion and the spider, the Tyrells and littlefinger.

It is the opposite: if B&W were going to do that, then they would never have mentioned the possibility. Also, B&W are very fastidious about setting up major plot devices: and they spent no time doing so. (The same is true for the books: Jon never goes beyond simple wolf dreams, and we read that another warg views Jon as actively resisting the warg “gift” rather than embracing it.)

Instead, this probably was B or W (I forget which) making a joke: they almost certainly know that many fans think that Jon is going to spend Winter as a wolf, and they were making fun of the idea. (The book itself contradicts the idea heavily: not only does Jon not have the experience to do this, but wargs that join with an animal like that rapidly lose themselves; Jojen warns Bran about this both in the books and on TV.)

Ginevra: We were told that Rhaegar loved to sing while he didn’t love to kill, thank goodness! But that wouldn’t make him slight or bad at killing.

And that is an important distinction to remember! Rhaegar comes across as something of a Renaissance man. He basically could do everything well: scholarship, poetry, music, swordplay, and, of course, seducing hot northern women! (He probably wrote “I wish they all could be Winterfellian girls” and then ditched it realizing that the Kingsguard nights couldn’t pull off the harmony vocals necessary; also, the lines about Dornish girls came of looking really bad given that he was leaving his Dornish first wife for Lyanna….. 😀 )

ash,
Mmmm useful in most circumstances but there are so many deaths – actual, potential or otherwise – in GoT we may need a more specialist measure. “Mostly” is open to interpretation, I reckon we’re talking percentages, or maybe a comparison to someone else. Are we talking Ned dead (deffo), Hound dead (in theory but you never know Cleganebowl CONFIRMED!!), Mountain dead (I’m not a book reader so not sure if he’s mostly dead, normal dead, dead dead or mega dead?), Beric dead (cheating and magic and stuff involved) or another kind? We have a few scientists on here, perhaps they can suggest something? 😉

I haven’t heard that quote before, was he talking about anyone I might know? 🙂

Kay,
Oh riiiiiiiiiiight things have just become a lot clearer now thanks 🙂 Never seen it ‘cos I mistakenly thought it was a proper fairytale, which I give a very wide berth to (was waaaaaay to old for that sort of thing when it came out). People kept talking about Inigo Montoya on here when Oberyn came up in conversation. Looks promising, I’ll give it a try. Then I can quote it at people and say “oh don’t you know that old thing” in a superior style 😉

Lulu’s Mum:Kay,
Oh riiiiiiiiiiight things have just become a lot clearer now thanks Never seen it ‘cos I mistakenly thought it was a proper fairytale, which I give a very wide berth to (was waaaaaay to old for that sort of thing when it came out). People kept talking about Inigo Montoya on here when Oberyn came up in conversation. Looks promising, I’ll give it a try. Then I can quote it at people and say “oh don’t you know that old thing” in a superior style

I HIGHLY recommend this movie (Princess Bride) for anyone who hasn’t seen it. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time. A wonderful blend of comedy, fantasy & romance. My kids and I quote lines from this movie to each other still (while my wife gives us strange looks).

I’ve still not watched it. Barry Norman didn’t rate it so I probably decided to give it a miss on its TV run. Unfortunately movies that age rarely show on TV any more. Might it be on during the day? I only check evening schedules.

Dolorous Methuselah: I HIGHLY recommend this movie (Princess Bride) for anyone who hasn’t seen it. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time. A wonderful blend of comedy, fantasy & romance.

Yes to all this. HIGHLY recommended. And yes, one of my all-time favorites too. Plus so many, many quotable moments that are so present in everyday culture. (“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”) It’s a piece of film history.

Dolorous Methuselah: I HIGHLY recommend this movie (Princess Bride) for anyone who hasn’t seen it.It’s one of my favorite movies of all time.A wonderful blend of comedy, fantasy & romance.My kids and I quote lines from this movie to each other still (while my wife gives us strange looks).

When someone tells me they’ve never seen “Princess Bride” I just look at them like… you cereal?

GhostCR: Yes it is an old photo. I’m not sure if it is from 1 or 2 years ago, but I’ve seen it before.

I’d tend to say it’s an older pic – none of them have the haunted, “wtf happened to me?” looks that they were all showing by the end of Season 5. And Iwan, Iwan looks normal and sweet – there’s no crazed psycho lurking behind those eyes. I don’t care how much you say they are acting, the acting affects them in their personal lives as well. Alfie looked haunted at Comic Con.

Conan: He’s still bonded with Ghost though and what happens to a Warg upon death sounds like an automatic process.

Possibly in the books…but certainly not in the show. Since we are talking “show” here, then it isn’t automatic that JS would warg into Ghost. I am much more behind the Red Witch rezzing him instead. Not that THAT will happen either. We are all pathetically in the dark at the moment and only amusing ourselves until we get the truth of it all. Hell, it is just what….nine months… *faints*

😉

Wimsey

I am glad that with this discussion, we are pretty much “singing off the same sheet of music”. (see what I did there?) I recall another debate in a time long ago in a place far away about whether S. Snape had to die or not and I said: “Of course he HAS to, he killed Dumbledore.” You said something else. As I recall that debate went on for a bit. And…of course he did die. *whimpers and snivels* 😛

Obsidian: While we can understand the reasons that the show has to minimize the use of the direwolves (legal restrictions, CGI costs) they would not have those problems in showing the berserker aspect of the bond.

Why would there be legal restrictions about showing a CGI Direwolf? Are they trademarked somehow? I’m not being a snark, I’d really be interested in knowing what creating these creatures entails and a legal restriction would be interesting to hear about. I realize that CGI is expensive and time consuming, but I do enjoy seeing the creatures that are created, especially the Direwolves that started this story.

It was a joke, and it was Dan Weiss. There had just been a bit of teasing about Kit being a heart-throb and he’d just given an audience member a hug.. Then Kit and John Bradley had been asked about what they’d like their characters to do in future, or what character they’d like to play. Kit said he’d like to be a warg – to “put myself into a wolf”. Everyone dissolved into laughter. It was being taken in a sexual way. That’s when Dan made the season 6 comment.

Lulu’s Mum: Are we talking Ned dead (deffo), Hound dead (in theory but you never know Cleganebowl CONFIRMED!!), Mountain dead (I’m not a book reader so not sure if he’s mostly dead, normal dead, dead dead or mega dead?), Beric dead (cheating and magic and stuff involved) or another kind?

Hello, Dear – missed you yesterday.
I’d say there might be another kind of dead that applies to the Mountain (winces, and apologises in advance) Walking Dead? ewww, I know.

Does Gregor actually die in the show? It’s never stated that he did. He was still alive in the S4 finale, and seemed to be alive when he began convulsing on Qyburn’s table in… Episode 3 or 4 (I can’t recall which at the moment) of S5. He also still had his head and was breathing when Qyburn reintroduced him in Mother’s Mercy.

I don’t think he actually died. I think Qyburn just kept him in a comatose state and… treated him somehow. The process definitely changed him though.

GeekFurious: Most actors are about 4 feet tall. It’s a little known fact… a tall actor is someone over 5 feet. Actors over 6 feet have to be filmed while standing in a deep hole so as not to tower over the munchkins of Hollywood.

You are being facetious, right? Though Hollywood prefers leading men and women to be roughly the same height, which makes for shorter men and taller women and which gives a ring of truth to what you’ve said, Tom Cruise at 5’7″ is considered tiny by Hollywood standards. Peter Dinklage is 4’5″. And Richard Armitage, who plays the king dwarf Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit is 6’2″.

That’s two of us, then. At least with Bran not appearing in S5, they straight out told us, or didn’t deny the “slip” Nairn (Hodor) made when the news came out. They showed the fans some respect and that made it ok, we knew, we accepted and look forward happily to Bran’s return. This silliness with Jon may reach a point where it isn’t a happy, harmless tease, it’s just bad storytelling.

Thronetender: That’s two of us, then.At least with Bran not appearing in S5, they straight out told us, or didn’t deny the “slip” Nairn (Hodor) made when the news came out.They showed the fans some respect and that made it ok, we knew, we accepted and look forward happily to Bran’s return.This silliness with Jon may reach a point where it isn’t a happy, harmless tease, it’s just bad storytelling.

Unless he’s dead dead. ugh, what day is it today Wimsey?

It’s Wednesday, so it is okay to feel shitty twenty different ways, just in case…….

Oh, this is a mixed-bag day – After slogging through the mostly book-theories on the other Kit thread, and then reading that Kit wasn’t at the table readings, which suggests he has no lines, I’m groaning toward pessimism. That’s unusual for me.

But I was thinking if we wait all these months for the season, then see him in a funeral scene, and ONLY a funeral scene, it will be like losing him all over again.

Guess I’d better pay attention to the hype around the newer characters. Who the heck is this Euron that everybody’s been losing their minds over? And are we sure he has been cast or are we still in the dark over the casting of the new guys? This off-season is starting off shitty.
(bangs around kitchen grumbling and scares the cat.)

Not to be negative…but….how do we know that is really Kit? Side view and back view doesn’t prove anything. If this fan was on this flight with him, why didn’t she get a shot of his face? Using your phone to do it, he’d never know. No click, or flash. BTW, where is a pic of the guy who plays Jaqen? If there was, I’d be licking my screen right now! LOL
No disrespect to anyone about this. I want Kit and Jon back on the show!